Frameline48: If I Die, It’ll Be of Joy

A meditation on the often-fraught relationship between sexuality and aging, If I Die, It’ll Be of Joy is essential viewing for queer folks of all generations. When director Alexis Taillant turned 43, he became better acquainted with the invisibility that comes with growing older. As a result, the filmmaker set out to interrogate our ageist cultural perceptions of LGBTQ+ elders, and, ultimately, asserts that old age can be a period of life that’s filled with immense love, joy, and pleasure. By interviewing three subjects — 81-year-old Micheline, who still dreams of sex and orgasms; 70-year-old taboo-fighting activist Francis; and 68-year-old downcast romantic Yves — the documentary paints a portrait that is both unique and universal.

Beautifully lensed and honestly told, If I Die, It’ll Be of Joy is an intimate triptych that pushes audiences to reckon with the power held by our queer elders as they defy prejudice, rethink aging, and delight in new and familiar experiences.